RSS Round-Up: Whats Happening with Simple Syndication?

Have you been following the explosion of RSS -- Really Simple Syndication -- activity online? Seems this new method of "getting the word out" is picking up steam. Why? Partly because of the Davids, and partly because of the Goliaths. The "Davids" -- the little guys -- are able to deploy the technology since it is easy to use and usually is a feature of Blogging software (Blogging is another emerging trend -- for more articles on Blogging, visit WebFadds.com). You just click the option and send your RSS feed (broadcast your articles) out to subscribing sites. And the "Goliaths", the likes of Yahoo, Google, MSN and others, are all catering to it in various ways. Let's look at some of the latest ways this is playing out...

Microsoft joins the battle with an RSS Service

Information week reported in March 2005, that Microsoft is now testing an RSS technology that will allow users to choose the RSS feeds they want to see. They are doing this to keep up with (Microsoft always seems reactive, rather than proactive as a company) Google, Yahoo, and Ask Jeeves who already offer similar services.

You can review the test site at the super secret test site -- www.start.com/1/ (well... it was published in the Information Week article).

So, Microsoft Enters the Game? Ho hum for Microsoft, as they lag once again, in leading the wave. But, this is an indication of how seriously this Goliath is taking RSS, and you know where that leads... direct into the next release of Windows software.

Poddcasting, RSS, & Attachments... Oh My

Now here's a high octane way of using a combination of syndication feeds, and "Podcasting" (think of Broadcasting, but doing it from your computer to other devices like Apple's iPod) to get your message out. Maybe that's why one entrepreneur using this method, Steve Wirrick, calls his stock insights, sent via an audio attachment to an RSS feed, "High Octane Trading." You can read more about it (and get the feed) at Mr. Wirricks site (www.stevewirrick.com), where he describes it as, "a dynamic audio learning tool that takes advantage of a grassroots media revolution called, podcasting."

How to listen: To listen to a Podcast (and there are others -- check out iPodder.org), you need a free program called "iPodder -- Cross Platform podcast receiver"... get it at http://ipodder.sourceforge.net/index.php.

RSS meets PodCasting: Power to the people! Most people are just waking up to RSS syndication as a means to distribute the written word. They forgot about attachments. Watch this technology... with a free method of creation, and distribution, Radio could be set to learn from PodCasters what Print & TV journalists already understood from Bloggers -- the power is shifting. What are you going to Podcast?

BEEP... your RSS Feed is Calling...

RSS feeds on your cell phone -- who'd have thunk it? Now there's a service called "Feed Beep" which allows you to sign up and receive your crucial feeds, from employment information to medical, to Auctions. Looks like a start-up, and it appears to be free (for now) -- see www.feedbeep.com/.

Can You Hear your RSS Feed Now?: Great. Now that noisy guy at the theater can also get calls about his eBay auctions. What next? The service also sends feeds to your Pager. Hmmmm. What could be so important? I'm not sure, but it looks like we're destined to find out. But wait a minute... what about PodCasting RSS feeds to phones -- your phone becomes a Radio receiver. Hmmmm.

Let the Whole World Know your Schedule...

There's a Beta site ("Beta" simply means they're still testing it, and it's not quite ready for us Alpha people) up now where you can create an RSS Calendar. You set up your event calendar, create an RSS channel, then family and friends can view your calendar. Take it for a spin at RSSCalendar -- www.rsscalendar.com... it's free.

Calendar to the World: The site states you can share your Calendar with unlimited users. Hmmm. How is this different from calendars you can set up on Yahoo, MSN, etc.? Now, those who are too lazy to check a link you give them at those sites, can be force fed your calendar in their RSS Reader. OOPS... those same lazy people, will also have to go get and install an RSS reader (just do a Google search to find free RSS readers you can use). Fat chance if they are too lazy to simply link to a static calendar you might already have set up. But... if Microsoft builds this technology in... then... well! And, that takes us full circle on this edition of the RSS Round-up.

Scott Frangos is a writer, designer, and eCommerce marketer with over 20 years experience in Advertising. He has taught eCommerce, HTML, and Business courses at the college level in Portland, Oregon, and currently is Managing Partner of WebFadds.com. He also enjoys canoeing in the Pacific Northwest, with his wife and partner, Pepper. You can subscribe to the WebFadds.com RSS feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Webfaddscom

---

Powered by Feedzilla

Contact Us Today For Ad Information...

Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Cheap Domain Names

Should Affiliates Really Use Blogging and Pinging To Get Indexed?

There seems to be a huge craze lately with everyone... Read More

The Holy Grail that Online Advertisers, Merchants, Publishers, and Shoppers have been Looking for!

For Online Publishers/RSS Feeds users - RSS (Real Simple Syndication)... Read More

How To Make A Cool Xanga

A xanga is something akin to a blog. It all... Read More

How to Use RSS for Free Targeted Website Traffic

RSS (real simple syndication) is the new rage in communication.... Read More

Will Spam-Blogging Be The Death Of Blogging?

Technorati reports that 30,000 - 40,000 new blogs are being... Read More

How To Profit From Your Home Business Blog

A blog is a simple tool which all affiliate marketers... Read More

Introduction to Really Simple Syndication (RSS)

Really Simple Syndication is exactly what it's name states. A... Read More

Blogs and Journalism

The world has seen the emergence of a new style... Read More

To Blog or Not to Blog: Are Blogs Becoming More Popular than Forums, Newsletters and E-zines?

Blogging is hot, and seems to be becoming hotter each... Read More

How to Make Money with Your Blog

-- What Is A BlogA blog (or web log as... Read More

Feeds For Small Business: Real World Examples

A merchant I was talking to the other day asked... Read More

What is an RSS Aggregator or RSS Reader?

I keep hearing about RSS, XML and RSS feeds. I... Read More

Blog Problems

What in the world is up with the world of... Read More

Boost your Search Engine Rankings with an RSS Feed

I'm here to teach you about how RSS Feeds can... Read More

Blogging will Soon Take Over the World

In recent years, it's been pretty obvious that "blogging" (Web... Read More

Top Ten Reason to Publish an Ezine AND a Blog

Blogs are the hottest thing going these days when it... Read More

RSS ? Will It Really Become Mainstream?

I am not one to have New Year's resolutions, but... Read More

Blogs: The Hidden Ace Up Your Sleeve

If it wasn't for my blog, I wouldn't make any... Read More

12 Reasons Why You Need A Blog

"Why Should I Blog? I Simply Don't Get It"This post... Read More

How using RSS will attract and maintain visitors

There are nowhere near the amount of webmasters using RSS... Read More

How to Use Blog Exchanges

Traffic exchanges and blog traffic exchanges are a way to... Read More

A Blog Isnt Just For Christmas

I was watching the news on TV last night and... Read More

You Are Losing Money If Youre Not Using RSS Feeds On Your Website!

(An RSS primer can be found near the bottom of... Read More

What Is A Blog? - A Beginners Guide to Understanding Blogs

A blog is short for weblog, which simply means a... Read More

Advertising in RSS Feeds: Are we risking disaster?

Advertising in RSS feeds is something that Google is considering... Read More